Palacios resigns as education panel chair

Embattled Rep. Raymond D. Palacios (Cov-Saipan), who is currently on bail for alleged “ice” trafficking, stepped down yesterday as chairman of the House Committee on Education, saying his resignation is related to the allegations against him.

House Speaker Eli Cabrera (R-Saipan) said he accepted Palacios’ resignation but has yet to name his replacement.

In his one-page letter, Palacios said his resignation will “give way to others who can better provide the time dealing with issues surrounding education on our island which I, at this point in time, is not able to, due to the alleged allegations lodged against me.”

“Again, in order to properly, and fully served (sic) our people, I strongly believe that I must step down as chairman, so that you can appoint someone else who can dedicate and devote his/her time in addressing matters pertaining to education in the CNMI,” Palacios told Cabrera.

The speaker said he’s not surprised about the resignation because he and Palacios talked about it last week.

“When I spoke to him last week, we talked about his chairmanship of education, that schools are drug-free places, and the allegations against him. He said he would step down as chairman. I appreciate him stepping down, and I want the Education Committee to keep moving. I don’t have a replacement for him yet as of today,” Cabrera said.

Palacios will remain as a member of the 17th House of Representatives and a member of the House leadership.

“It is indeed an honor and privilege to have served under this committee and that, should my assistance is (sic) needed, that I am ready to assist in any way I can. Also, please be assured that I will continue to support the ‘House Leadership’ in advocating and setting forth plan that will aid our struggling Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands economy and most importantly, our people,” Palacios said in his letter.

He couldn’t be reached for further comment yesterday.

Palacios is also a member of the House Committee on Ways and Means, and a member of the Saipan and Northern Islands Legislative Delegation’s Committee on Health, Education and Welfare and Committee on Natural Resources.

Cabrera said there’s no stopping Palacios from continuing to become a member of these other committees.

Five of 20 House members have so far undergone drug testing.

They are the House speaker, Special Standing Committee on Official Conduct and Ethics chair George Camacho (Ind-Saipan), and committee members Rep. Edmund Villagomez (Cov-Saipan), Rep. Teresita Santos (Ind-Rota) and Rep. Ray Yumul (R-Saipan).

Of the five, one result has come back—that of the House speaker. He tested “negative” for drug use, as indicated in the test result, a copy of which was obtained by Saipan Tribune yesterday.

He took the drug test on Oct. 26, and got the result on Nov. 1. He said the test cost him $59.

Cabrera said he’s expecting that others would follow suit, to show the community that lawmakers are drug-free.

When asked whether he would ask Palacios to also take a drug test, he said he won’t ask him to do so but leaves it up to the committee.

“I also told him he should consult his attorney before doing it if he wants to,” Cabrera added.

Camacho said the results of the drug test for other members are expected to be released later.

The Special Standing Committee on Official Conduct and Ethics specifically created to investigate Palacios’ alleged drug use convened again yesterday morning.

Camacho said they reviewed and discussed information about the allegations against Palacios during the closed-door meeting, but won’t disclose the specifics.

He said while there is no definite timeline, he hopes the committee will be able to wrap up its investigation in the soonest possible time.

Among those in the meeting besides Camacho were Villagomez, Santos, Yumul and Rep. Fred Deleon Guerrero (Ind-Saipan). Reps. Trenton Conner (R-Tinian) and Joseph Deleon Guerrero (R-Saipan) were not present.